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The City of Onkaparinga council has voted to march the Federal Government's recently announced $5.4 million funding for the upgrade of the Noarlunga Aquatic Centre.

To help redevelop the pool’s “ageing” facilities for its 270,000 annual users, the council voted to match the funding at its meeting last Tuesday.

However, the prospect of the year long closure of the facility has alarmed the Southern Performance Swimming Club, which practices at Noarlunga Aquatic Centre, which has expressed concerns that its membership numbers will drop during the closure, leading to “financial instability” and “disruptions to training”.

As reported by Adelaide’s The Advertiser, Southern Performance Swimming Club (SPSC) President David Busby believes that said the temporary closure of the centre would “jeopardise” the club’s future.

Busby told The Advertiser “these disruptions jeopardise the future of our club and the development of athletes who represent our region at a high level across a variety of sports, many of which depend on swimming as a core skill.

“The Noarlunga Aquatic Centre has been at the heart of aquatic sports in our region, yet there has been no meaningful engagement to ensure that the needs of competitive athletes are met in these proposed upgrades

“Now is the time to plan boldly and inclusively. We need a facility that not only serves our pool swimmers but also supports the growing number of athletes in southern Adelaide who depend on swimming as their foundational fitness.”

Under the $10.8 million proposal, the Noarlunga Aquatic Centre’s roof would be replaced and the lagoon pool would be separated from the main pool.

An accessible ramp would also be added “to enhance inclusivity for all users”, while a modernised filtration and disinfection plant would be constructed to keep the pools at a “more consistent temperature”.

However, the Centre would be forced to close for up to 12 months for the works.

An Onkaparinga council spokesperson said they were “fully committed to consulting closely” with SPSC and its 160 members along with “all impacted users to support their needs and minimise disruptions”.

The spokesperson added “we recognise the inconvenience an extended closure will have on the centre users, including athletes from the swimming club.

“While this disruption is unavoidable to deliver these renewal works, the project is a vital investment in the centre’s long-term future. Once reopened, the enhanced facility will provide a more modern training environment, ensuring a suitable space for athletes to grow and thrive.”

On its website, the council went on to advise “the proposed $10.8 million refurbishment primarily focuses on renewing and modernising the existing facilities, with minimal changes to the centre’s overall size, function or layout.

“Enhancements include improved accessibility, the separation of the lagoon pool from the competition pool, and upgrades to a modern filtration system, which will provide better temperature control and water quality. These changes are designed to enhance the overall experience for all users, including competitive athletes, while preserving the centre’s core purpose and functionality.

“We recognise the inconvenience an extended closure will have on the centre users, including athletes from the swimming club.

“While this disruption is unavoidable to deliver these renewal works, the project is a vital investment in the Centre’s long-term future. Once reopened, the enhanced facility will provide a more modern training environment, ensuring a suitable space for athletes to grow and thrive.”

Click here for more information on the project.

Images: The exterior and interior of the Noarlunga Aquatic Centre. Credit: City of Onkaparinga.

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